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Aesculapian
Snake
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Adults are usually up to 70 (75) cm, sometimes over 80 cm. Females larger than males. The pupil is round, scales are smooth. Usually greyish, brownish, pinkish, sometimes reddish. Females are greyer than males (usually brown). Has 2 rows of dark (brown, black) spots on back, behind head usually larger blotches (sometimes horn-shaped). Has a dark line from nostril over the eye towards neck. Belly is reddish, orange, grey or blackish, sometimes with spots. A very secretive snake, diurnal.Can be found on bushes, grassy slopes, rocky terrain (suposedly also in vineyards), dry, but also moist habitats. Likes to heat up under vegetation, metal sheets (...), but avoids high temperatures. Because of that more often active in cooler parts of the day, in warm cloudy days. During hotter days can be active by night. During the day it doesn't travel much (13-100 m). Can climb in dense low bushes. Relatively slow and flegmatic, but bites often when handled, even whenit doesn't feel threatened (bite is harmless, does not hurt, but in my oppinion and personal experience has a stronger bite than an Aesculapian Snake of the same size). Also like the Grass Snake, releases a foul smelling secretion (a lot less intense than the Grass Snake's). Does not "run" after prey, but hunts it down by its scent to its hidingplace and feeds there. Throws coils arround larger prey. Mostly feeds on lizards (often 70% of diet!) (especially the size of a half grown Green Lizard), Slow Worms and Skinks, small mammals (and their young), small snakes (even Vipers!), reptile and nesting bird eggs. Females usually eat something else than lizards. Young feed on insects and lizards. During mating season (spring) males fight each other. Mating lasts several hours. Females give birth to 2-16 (rarely 19) live young. In South mate again in Summer and carry young thorugh hibernation and give birth in Spring. In the North females mate every 2-3 years. Males mature in 2.5-3 years (in South) and 4 years (in North). Females take longer. Sometimes lives up to 18 years in the wild. |
ZANIMLJIVOSTI: * When resting under cover (or is in danger) often coils up into a ball or a small "tower" so that the head is at the bottom and is protected.
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